as per converstaion regading self mutilation and the unknown Nemotode (internal parsite) from the story on
http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/realstories/Kaya/kaya.aspl
Okay, I have spoke with the vet on this one, she is going to send me the article, it was on a vet list of somesort that was pretty elite.. anyway it is a small intestional parasite that has similar characteristics of the giardia, in that it can only be found in the stools, while it is in active state. as to the transmitting of it, she said it is a "mothering" parasite, which may mean several things,
1. that it is passed from mom or dad, through the blood or semen, some gliders may be carriers with no symptoms at all.
2. that as in the listeria, it may be a normal parasite, and not a threat until the numbers get large.. much like cancer cells, we all have them, just in some people something triggers them to grow.. could be the same here.

the little glider that is in the story is not quite out of the water as of yet.. she had him to the vet yesterday, to remove the "gauze sweater" and check it out, it was healing great, scabbed up and all, but it wasn't long before she started gougeing at it again.. so they had to remedicate and put the sweater on again, the funny thing is as long as the sweater is on, she doesn't mess with it....
Of other self mutilation cases that we had researched 2 of them was related, and rejected joeys, this glider is only 5 weeks oop,, so could it be something in the lack of parental milk? That could be triggered lets say by hormones.. as in the males reaching sexual maturity? Could it be triggered by the stress of the raging hormones?
Also about the nemotade, it could be seeing that she is litterally ripping at her chest with her hands, and this is an intestional parasite, that as in other nempotodes, that they may orignate somewhere lets say the blood, finsh one stage of growth, move to yet another organ, lets say the liver, then out the intestines..which in the other cases may show to be the case..
This mainly is a lot of specualtion, as that there is nothing really known about this nemotode, virtualy unknown...
As some people can go all the way through life and not know any person personally that had cancer, but has heard of some, this seems to be the case with the self mutialtion.. This is something we have been researching for several years, and still may not find a cause or cure, but every hope is better than none..
The good thing is, they can stop the itching at this time, so at least, it gives them time to work on the issues at hand, and allow more time for even more research...

• Kaya's Self Mutilation Story

Follow Ups:

• B,I talked to Sharon for ya and she says she is gonna look for the article too, she remembers it....msg for B K- 10:55:31 04/27/2000 (0)
• Thanks, Bourbon. That makes more sense than mutilation for just depression. Appreciate the info.. Jen L 10:07:40 04/27/2000 (0)